***Official 2011-12 MLB HOTSTOVE OFF-SEASON THREAD***

Whats the point of even hiring a GM?? I dont get it....

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...jp-passan_valentine_cherington_red_sox_112911

 

No surprise FY, sort of like Phil Jackson being moved out of Chicago after MJ and Co left because Reinsdorf wanted to prove he was capable.

They still haven't won anything since then.

These moves did not seem like Red Sox moves, now we know why.

 

Heath Bell is apparently about to sign with a mystery team...Red Sox, Angels, Reds, and Marlins rumored.

 

For the record the Marlins shouldnt do this, they need other pieces than a closer....as well I am not really sold on Heath Bell....

 

Surprised the Sox werent in on this somehow.....Rhode Island kid...

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Really? He's been an elite closer the past few years and is not a product of Petco.

 

The Sox did like Iannetta in the past, but I think they're happy with the Saltalamacchia/Lavarnway combo moving forward. Really like the move on the Angels part. Iannetta was pretty underappreicated in Colorado.

Bell is a product of Petco Park, all pitchers from the Padres are (meaning their numbers are going to be better than if they pitched in Park X) all his underlying stats show that from FIP to xFIP, SIERRA etc. And check out Bell's decling K rate and his rising HR/9 rate, those numbers along with his age, miles on his arm and weight would scare me off of a long term deal.

 

Word is Valentine is getting a 2 year deal with the Red Sox. Makes sense and if I were a betting man I'd put money on John Farrell being the Sox manager in 2014, when his current contract with the Blue Jays runs out.

 

Oh I wasn't knocking Bell, he's been a good RPer for years now, but I do think Petco makes him out to be better than he is (and really all Padres pitchers).

 

Well from a Marlins perspective, the new ball park is supposed to be pitcher friendly, so we'll see.

 

It is getting old at this point BDH, you are just saying whatever is the opposite of I say just to say it.....Bell is no way near Papelbon's talent level....and is 4 years older...

 

also this is interesting......

 

Ah, MLB's AAA team...

Eh, tbh think Bell has lost a few inches off of the fastball and do not think he would do well in fenway with the short left field porch.

He's more of a flyball pitcher now who can get a strikeout when he needs one, I also think maybe his workload has been to heavy over the last 2 yrs.

 

I don't want Heath Bell for the Sox. Like you said he's lost some zip off his fast ball (which show in his declined K rate) and is a fly ball pitcher. That will play in Petco and in the NL West but not a hitter friendly park. For the money it's going to cost to acquire him, there are better (and cheaper) options out there.

 

Bell signed with Miami at 3 yrs, 27 millie

 

Varitek was contacted by the Mets after they declined interested in posada. Irony.

Also I think Valentine will be very good for the Sox. I loved him with the Mets. He is all business and has a great feel for the game. he knows the nmbers and makes the appropriate moves. One of the very few times I have seen a manager actually impact games was with valentine here in NY. Lester and the others wont be drinking beers in the clubhouse on his watch. Plus fake mustaches are in play.

 

Suspect his problems are mechanical.

 

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This has nothing to do with it...none....

and yes I like to see Sox/Yanks play in the ALCS every year, personal preference....

 

Magic to own a piece of the Dodgers?

Wasn't Kasten involved with the Hawks and Braves at one time?

 

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Bad day for the Mets, they apparently lost 70 million bucks last year along with Reyes. Also because the Mets didn't trade Reyes and he ended up signing with the Marlins, the Mets will only get the Marlins 3rd round pick (if Pujols signs it would be a 4th round pick) because of the new CBA and the Marlins' bad record last year. The lesson to be learned here? If you're a bad team it's better to trade your players instead of hoping for good draft picks because there's just too much risk involved.

 

this is the baseline for Cano's deal.....

 

Oh anything less would be an insult. Cano is a better player than Reyes.

 

I don't like the signing at all but Bell has lost nothing from his fastball.

 

You're right, that was a mistake on my part. I had read an article that said he lost FB velo but that was obviously false. I checked FanGraphs a few days ago when I was posting why it was a mistake for the Marlins to sign him in the Marlin thread and saw that.

 

Uhm, you know, I actually watched him pitch, and he was very hittable, as in his fastball had straightened out.

But we'll see.

Francona hired by ESPN to host their Red Sox broadc...err.. their MLB coverage team, he takes the place of Valentine, who went to the Red Sox.

I'm noticing a theme here.

Oh, and new Padres GM, "announced" that they will not sign pitchers to longer then 3 yr deals, as if the cheap bastards were going to sign any anyway.

 

Bell always had a straight fastball. We're talking strictly about his fastball velocity though. According to Fangraphs.com, who track this stuff (they're a great website) his fast ball velocity hasn't changed since 2007.

 

FWIW, his hits per 9IP went up to 7.3 from 7.2. A discernible difference.

Something happened to his strikeout rate though so who knows.

 

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/new...06&content_id=26105126&vkey=news_tor&c_id=tor

 

Unlike the Pads kinda...

 

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Was supposed to be for ODog, who played hard but could not dodge the injury bug.

Street is going to think he moved from a cramped condo to the open prairies of Petco..